XVI: Heartache and Tears

Chapter XVI: Heartache and Tears

There was far less noise in the Great Hall than usual on the morning of January first. Not surprising, really, as there were fewer students present than usual. Many had decided to have a lie-in after the New Year's party, and those who had actually possessed the strength to go to breakfast were either very tired or very hung-over, or both. But there were also students who felt positively cheerful that New Year's morning, if not elated, and Charis Byrne was one of those.

She was sitting in her usual seat from which she could see all the way to the Slytherin table. But that morning, she was not trying to catch the eye of her friend. In fact, she had not even noticed that Morgana had not arrived yet. No, Charis' eyes were on somebody else that morning, namely on a rather handsome looking Slytherin boy with chocolate-brown eyes.

'Earth to Charis Byrne, earth to Charis Byrne. Charis Byrne, come in, please.'

Charis turned her head slowly towards her House mate, but she had to blink a couple of times to tear her eyes from Blaise. And what a shame it was to take her eyes off him.

'Well, aren't we looking all happy and dreamy-eyed? But you really should stop drooling, Charis. No one will want to eat soggy toast.'

Charis blushed and giggled. 'I am sorry, Cathy,' she said and playfully wiped her chin with the napkin her House mate was offering her. 'It's just ... oh, isn't he just gorgeous?'

Cathy craned her neck to get a better look at Zabini. 'Yeah,' she said and shrugged. 'Not bad for a Slytherin.'

'Not bad?' Charis' eyes darted back to the Slytherin table. 'Cathy, you need to get your eyes checked. Look at that body, that face, those lips ...' Her voice trailed off, and she started having flashbacks: Blaise's face close to hers, his lips on hers, his taut body tightly pressed against hers ...

Once more, Cathy had to raise her voice to make Charis snap out of her trance. 'I said,' she repeated as Charis' eyes were finally focused on her, 'that it is weird to see you making eye-contact with another Slytherin other than Morgana. Where is she anyway? She's a rather early bird normally.'

Charis frowned. 'Yes, it seems rather odd. But then again, she had two Butterbeers last night. Can't hold her liquor, the dear one. She's probably hung-over.'

'Now that seems to be a Slytherin trait,' Cathy concluded. 'Judging from the sour look on Snape's face, he's hung-over, too. Thank goodness we are not having any lessons today. I don't think anyone would survive even the tiniest mistake in Potions.'

Charis cast a glance towards the staff table. Snape indeed looked like thunder. And although she was deeply embarrassed because he had caught her and Blaise in flagrante, Charis now felt sorry for the Potions master. She had seen him down half a bottle of Odgen's last night, standing all alone by the bar while everyone else had been having fun. All alone, except for the few moments he had been talking to Dumbledore, Rosmerta and Morgana. And even then, he had almost seemed lonely.

And the way he held on to her after he'd sent Blaise away, the intense look in his eyes, the way he spoke to her ... it was almost as if Snape had wanted her for himself. The thought made a shiver go down Charis' spine. Snape had reminded her of the incident in the Room of Requirement. Surely, if he regretted it, he would not have mentioned it? And for a split second, she had seen that look in his eyes again, that look that told her that he wanted her. And she had wanted him, too, no matter how he had treated her before. She had wanted him to hold her in his strong arms, kiss her, make love to her ... But then he had – once more – turned cold in a blink of an eye, sent her back to the castle and told her to think very carefully about what she had done. He had almost seemed ... disappointed at her behaviour.

As if Snape had noticed Charis looking at him, he snapped his head up and scowled at her, and she lowered her gaze. And when he got up and started to walk towards the Ravenclaw table, she felt like running away. But she was rooted to the bench and had no choice but to watch him approach, his robes billowing behind him and jaw set.

Before Charis even got the chance to bid him good morning, Snape dropped a tiny parcel on her plate. 'I believe this is yours.'

Charis frowned. She had no idea what the parcel might contain.

'You will find that it has been returned to its original state,' Snape went on. 'I suggest you use it to locate that little friend of yours.' His voice was cold like a Siberian wind, and finally Charis understood. He was returning her necklace.

She looked after him, frowning, as he returned back to the staff table. Why ever would he return her necklace to her in the Great Hall where everyone could see that they were talking? And why would he want her to find Morgana? Surely, she was still in bed.

'What was that all about?' Cathy piped up as Snape was out of earshot.

'My necklace,' Charis explained, opening the parcel. 'I had lost it. Turns out it was in Snape's classroom the whole time.'

'And he bothered to bring it to you?' Cathy sounded gobsmacked. 'He must still be drunk. Could you smell the alcohol coming off him? Pathetic, I tell you.'

Charis didn't listen to her House mate abusing Snape; her thoughts had long since trailed off. Why would Snape want her to find out where Morgana was? Could it be that she was not in her dormitory after all?

Charis was just about to put on the necklace as Snape's yelling made her flinch.

'Miss Belakane, my office. RIGHT NOW!'

Charis – and all the other students – swirled around just in time to see Snape storm out of the Great Hall, with a rather dishevelled Morgana following in his wake.

'Is that how he treats people with a hangover?' Cathy asked as they had exited the Hall. 'God forbid he ever catches me. I swear, I am laying off Butterbeer! Starting today!'

'I would say Belakane being hung-over is not the reason for Snape's outburst.'

At the sound of the drawling voice, Charis turned around and came face to face with Draco Malfoy, who was sneering at her. 'Want me to share a secret with you, Byrne?'

'I am not interested in anything you have to say, Malfoy,' Charis declared and tried to get up. But Draco pushed her back onto her seat.

'Your best friend,' Draco started, his words dipped in acid. 'You know, she never returned to the castle after the party. She's been gone all night. And Snape did not return before five. Interesting, wouldn't you say?'

'You are pathetic, Malfoy,' Charis spat. 'Gossiping about your own Head of House and one of your own House mates? Have you seriously nothing better to do?'

Once more, Draco smirked. 'Oh, yes, dear Mudblood. I have thousands of things to do. Returning these, for instance.' With a flick of his wrist, he made a pair of black silken knickers land on her breakfast plate. 'Zabini sends his regards, by the way.'

And then he turned on his heel and returned to the Slytherin table, leaving Charis with her mouth open and her eyes on her knickers.

* * *

'Where were you last night, Miss Belakane?'

Morgana stared straight ahead, her mind racing. How the hell had Snape found out that she had not slept in the Slytherin dormitory? No one had seen her return to the castle, she was sure of that. Disillusionment Charms were one of her specialities. She had changed her robes, hurried to the Great Hall for breakfast and had certainly not been the last one to arrive. And still, Snape knew! Some of her dorm mates must have tattled. Those evil, horrid snakes! Something like that would never have happened in Gryffindor Tower!

'I will ask you just once more, Miss Belakane: where were you last night?'

It was a desperate attempt, Morgana knew that: desperate, foolish and outright dangerous, but she offered Snape a lie: 'In bed, sir.'

'Certainly not your own!' Snape spat. 'I happen to know that you did not return to your dormitory after the party.'

Who? Who had tattled?

'I am waiting, Miss Belakane!'

Snape was standing so close to her now that Morgana could literally feel him breathing down her neck.

What the hell had she been thinking? Why, why in the name of all the Furies had she gone to Lucius? Yes, she had been angry with Snape last night and had wanted to get back at him, but was her petty revenge really worth all the trouble she was in now?

'I will count to five, Miss Belakane,' Snape hissed. 'If I haven't heard the truth when I reach five, I swear I will force Veritaserum down your throat. One ...'

Morgana spun around to voice her protest and had just put out her chin defiantly when she saw cold wrath in Snape's eyes. And she also saw that he was glaring at her neck.

'Love bites?' he growled. 'Are you telling me that you have risked several months' worth of detention for some snogging?'

Morgana felt her stomach clench, and just before she cast down her glance, she saw something other than anger in Snape's eyes. Shock? Disappointment?

'Tell me that you did not go to Malfoy Manor, Miss Belakane.' The anger had gone from his voice as well. But his tone was cold, so cold. And Morgana dared neither to speak nor look up at him.

'Did you sleep with Lucius Malfoy, Miss Belakane?'

Still, Morgana did not answer. Not even when Snape grabbed her by the shoulders and shook her.

'Did you?'

As she nodded, Snape let go of her as if burnt. 'You stupid girl,' he spat. 'You stupid little slut! Is this how you thank me? I have been trying to protect you from danger, and on the first opportunity you run off to fuck the man who has been drugging you for over a month, the man who is responsible for your parents' deaths?! Where do you keep your brain, Miss Belakane? In your damp knickers?'

Morgana barely heard him. What had she done? She knew all this! She knew that Lucius had tried to make her parents join the Dark Lord, and that he – most probably – was responsible for their deaths. She knew that he had been slipping her Blackroot for over a month. And still she had run to him last night. Out of jealousy and spite. Had anyone ever done anything more stupid?

But then Lucius had told her that he loved her. He could not have been lying, now could he? She had looked into his eyes when he had said it. He could not have lied.

'Tell me that you were at least smart enough to use protection, Miss Belakane!'

Morgana snapped up her head and stared at her Head of House. Something about what he had just said made her heart ache, but she could not say if it was his words or the concerned tone in his voice.

'Have you?' Snape repeated.

Morgana just nodded. Why was this so important to him?

'Good.'

He swirled around and plucked a blue phial of the shelf behind his desk. 'Essence of Dittany,' he explained as he held out the phial towards Morgana. 'Use it on your neck. There is no need to thrust your questionable reputation even further into the spotlight. And now get out of my sight!'

As Morgana fled the dungeon, Snape let himself fall onto a chair, burying his face in his hands. How could the girl have been so bloody stupid? After what Malfoy had done to her, the possession, the Blackroot? How in Hades could she throw herself into his arms and let him shag her? Did she not know what this meant?

But of course, she did not know. She had no idea why Lucius Malfoy was after her. Surely, her girlish, adolescent, hormone-befuddled brain believed the nonsense Lucius had been writing in his letters, that she was the loveliest creature on earth and that he loved her. She had no idea how much danger she was now in that she had given herself to him.

Dumbledore would have to be informed about this development. He had to be informed right away. But Snape did not even get to the door before a searing pain in his left forearm made him sink to his knees.

* * *

Charis stared at the pair of black silk knickers that were strewn across her breakfast plate, still unable to comprehend. The chuckles of a few Ravenclaws on her table snapped her out of her reverie, and, blushing furiously, she crammed the knickers into her robe and left the table before anyone had a chance to ask questions or make smart comments.

What the hell was going on? Blaise had told her he wanted to take her underwear as a reminder of a perfect evening and because the thought of her returning to Hogwarts knickerless excited him. Of course, she had believed him. So how the hell had that little inbred prick Malfoy got hold of them? She looked over at the Slytherin table, where Blaise was now sat between Pansy Parkinson and Montague, smiling and laughing as if he didn't have a care in the world.

Charis was reluctant to approach him whilst he was surrounded by his less than hospitable housemates, but she needed to know what was going on. Slowly, she stepped towards the table.

'Blaise, can I have a word?' she asked quietly, hoping to get him away from his unsavoury friends.

Blaise either didn't hear, or ignored her. Draco Malfoy, however, did.

'Did you hear that, Blaise? Some kind of annoying buzzing sound? Sounded like a Mudblood.'

Draco, Pansy and Montague glared at Charis, but still Blaise didn't look at her.

'Blaise?' she pleaded, not knowing what was going on.

Finally, Blaise turned towards her. The warmth from his chocolate brown eyes was gone; instead he fixed her with a look that could only be described as pure disgust.

'Looks like I proved that the rumours about you are true. You really are a filthy little slut,' he said slowly as Charis paled. 'But thanks to Draco here, he made the whole degrading experience worthwhile.'

Charis looked from Blaise to Malfoy with alarm, the latter of which now had a sickening smirk on his face.

'VIP tickets to the next Quidditch match and a signed broom in return for your knickers. Sounded like a good deal to me, and far too easy,' Zabini continued smoothly.

Charis was desperately trying not to cry as Montague, Pansy and the other Slytherins started snickering. She would not give them the satisfaction!

But Blaise twisted the knife further and dealt the most crushing blow of all. 'Now, if you know what's good for you, I'd get away from our table before Montague's fist accidentally connects with your repulsive Mudblood face.'

Charis could contain her grief no more. With her eyesight blurring with emotion and her throat burning with shame, she turned and stumbled towards the doors of the Great Hall as the hot, fat tears began to fall down her cheeks.

* * *

The tears were still flowing freely as Charis stood on top of the Astronomy Tower five minutes later, watching her breath mist in the cold January air. She felt stupid. Stupid and used. Used all over again, just like she had felt with Snape.

How could this have happened? How could the gentle lover she had known the night before turn into a cold-hearted bastard? How could he have deceived her so?

Why did all Slytherin males only seem to want one thing from her? And why could she not resist them and see them for what they really were? Evil, lying snakes!

Another sob shook her body, and Charis felt like the loneliest person on Earth. But then her necklace started to glow. And she hung on to it, squeezed it until the metal cut into her palm. Morgana, I need you, she thought. Please, come and find me. She needed some advice now, some level-headed, sensible advice from the only Slytherin she could depend on.

When the door opened, Charis rushed forwards into her friend's open arms. 'I should have listened to you, Morgana,' she pressed forth between sobs. 'I should have listened to you.'

Morgana awkwardly patted her friend on the back. She knew why Charis was crying. She had returned to the Great Hall and the Slytherin table just in time to overhear Zabini bragging about how he had laid the little Ravenclaw slut. And despite the anger Morgana had felt towards Charis only twelve hours ago, she had immediately gone to look for her friend. What Zabini had done was brutal, and no one deserved such treatment.

'Charis,' Morgana whispered. 'Did Zabini hurt you last night?' From what she had overheard, anything could be possible.

Charis shook her head. 'He ... he was a perfect gentlemen,' she sobbed. 'And I thought ... I thought he liked me.'

Morgana oppressed the urge to say I told you so. She had indeed warned Charis about Slytherin boys, especially Zabini, but that did not matter now.

'I really, really thought he liked me,' Charis went on. 'He was so tender and sweet. It was exactly how I had imagined my first time to be. Romantic and special. I would never have let him touch me if I had known that he was such a pig. Oh, I am so stupid, Morgana!'

Her first time? Morgana swallowed dryly. Did that mean that Charis had not slept with Snape? Did that mean that she, Morgana, had jumped to the wrong conclusions and taken revenge for something that didn't need to be avenged? But if they had not slept together, then why the hell had Snape looked at Charis like that? Why had he said those things?

Morgana held her friend at an arm's length and looked into her blood-shot green eyes. 'You are not stupid, little Ravenclaw. Just hopelessly romantic. Don't blame yourself for believing that love still exists in this world.'

Love. Without her even noticing it, Morgana's thoughts drifted off. Lucius had been talking of love that morning. And she had believed him. But now, some hours later and back at Hogwarts, away from him, his words seemed ridiculous. He was responsible for her parents' deaths. He had drugged her, even tried to possess her mind. But still, she dearly hoped that his words had been true. Why? Why was she so desperate to believe him? Why did she feel that she needed his love?

Charis sniffed. She, too, was thinking about love. She knew she wasn't in love with Zabini, but she had certainly had the potential to be. In her mind, the two of them would have been the romance of the century. He had indeed swept her off her feet, and she had given her virginity to him willingly. He had been a welcome relief, a balm to soothe her heart after the embarrassing scenes with Snape. How was she to know he was going to crush her heart even more fiercely than the stern Potions master had? But then again, had Snape really meant to hurt her?

Her mind flitted briefly back to the scene at Hogsmeade. There was definitely something in Snape's tone that spoke of jealousy and disappointment. But she had no time to analyse that right now, since the thought of Snape suddenly reminded Charis of Morgana's scolding earlier in the Great Hall. 'Why was Snape so pissed with you at breakfast?' she asked.

Snape's name made Morgana snap out of her own thoughts and focus on her friend again, who had dried off her tears and obviously decided to change topics.

'He was pissed at me because I spent the night at Malfoy Manor,' she said straight out. Why lie?

'You WHAT?' Charis looked shocked. 'Malfoy ... WHY?'

Because I thought that the man whom I actually wanted to spend the night with was spending it with you, Morgana thought, irrational snakes of jealousy once more wriggling in the pit of her stomach. But she did not say anything.

Charis either did not notice her friend's silence or mistook it for a sign of embarrassment. And when she thought about her friend's reason for going to Malfoy manor, her eyes widened in shock. 'Morgana!' she exclaimed. 'Did you go there in the middle of the night? Did you ... ' Charis' eyes widened. 'Did you do anything?'

Morgana just nodded. 'And I know I shouldn't have,' she said, the confusion growing inside her. 'I am supposed to hate that man!'

Once she had started talking, she couldn't stop herself. All the thoughts she had had about Lucius Malfoy over the last months came flowing out of her mouth, and Charis' eyes became wider and wider. She seemed to understand just as little as Morgana did.

'I know that it was wrong to go to Lucius. And I know that he is dangerous,' Morgana said, a terrifying conclusion forming in her mind. 'But if he asks me to come back ... then I probably will.'

Charis gasped. 'Do you love him?'

And Morgana just shook her head. She had no idea what she felt.

* * *

Malfoy Manor, but of course. Snape sneered as he realised where he had been summoned to. He was really starting to hate that place! But then again, he could see why the Dark Lord would prefer it as meeting place. Riddle Manor was literally falling apart, and Lucius could provide his Lord with all the luxury money could buy.

Snape didn't need to ask the elf in which room the meeting was held, just like he hadn't needed to ask where to Apparate to. When the Dark Mark burnt, he always knew exactly where to go. Such were the powers of the Dark Lord.

Despite it being in the middle of the day, it was dark in the drawing room. The thick, dark green velvet curtains were closed, and the candles that were lit all around the room cast eerie shadows onto the walls. And the room seemed cold, dreadfully cold.

The Dark Lord was standing in front of the empty fireplace. His pearly white skin seemed almost transparent in the candle light, and the long, bony fingers of the hand he was now extending looked like the hand of a skeleton.

Snape suppressed a shudder and fell to his knees to first kiss the hem of the Dark Lord's robe, then that appalling hand. It was icy cold, and Snape wondered if it was the Dark Lord's presence that had made the room turn cold as well.

'Severus, my loyal servant!' the Dark Lord exclaimed and gestured for Snape to get up. 'You are late.'

'I had to make arrangements first, my Lord,' Snape explained, resisting the urge to grit his teeth. He was growing tired of this game. Every time he arrived, the Dark Lord told him that he was late. He should know by now that he could not just leave the castle in a blink of an eye. He had to leave the grounds to Disapparate.

'Surely dear Severus had some students to yell at first, my Lord,' came Lucius' drawling out of the shadows. 'Or had to dish out some detentions. Did you not, Severus? I do, however, hope that you did not put any student in detention that needs to be allowed to ... roam freely, as it were.'

Snape felt the muscles in his neck tense. Was that what this meeting was about? The Belakane girl?

'If you are referring to Miss Belakane, Lucius, then I can assure you that the girl will indeed receive detention for not sleeping in her own bed last night.'

'Now, Severus, we cannot have that, can we?' Lucius' voice was as sweet as honey, and it made Snape nauseous.

'She most certainly will serve detention, Lucius. The girl is a student of my House, and it is my responsibility to make sure that she follows the school rules.'

'School rules? Now that is ridiculous!' Lucius spun around to face Voldemort. 'My Lord, it seems that Severus here is trying to interfere with my – forgive me – with our plans,' he corrected himself with a deep bow. 'I suspect that he himself has cast an eye on the girl and hence is trying to keep her from me.'

'Don't be ridiculous, Lucius,' Snape snapped. 'I have already told you that I am not the least bit interested in Miss Belakane.'

'And still you are doing a damn good job keeping her away from me!'

'My Lord,' Snape started, his eyes resolutely on Voldemort, 'I am very much aware of the fact that Lucius wishes me to present the girl to him on a silver platter. I am, however, a Hogwarts teacher. I do not think Dumbledore would like it very much if I started pushing students into the arms of suspected Death Eaters.'

The Dark Lord gave a horrible chuckle. 'Unlike Lucius, dear Severus, I am aware of the delicate tightrope you walk daily on my behalf. And you have played your role as protector of the girl brilliantly and have offered me your unwavering loyalty faultlessly.

'However, Lucius here has offered me a birthday present which surpasses even this: the plan to provide me with an heir!'

Voldemort bared his teeth in a sickly smile that made Severus feel as if he had been drenched in icy water. So Lucius had waited until the Dark Lord's birthday to share his little plan? His sycophancy knew no bounds.

'The girl has now twice come to Lucius of her own free will,' he continued in his cold, high voice. 'The third time – as you are certainly aware of – holds a special charm, a kind of magic older than the family of the Belakanes themselves. And you will both do your best to ensure that the Heir will be conceived that time.'

'I have already made the necessary preparations, my Lord,' Lucius said quickly, his chest puffed up. 'When the girl stayed at the Manor last summer, I had one of my elves monitor her and her ... cycle. I am confident that I know the best time to invite her the next time.'

Voldemort nodded appreciatively. 'Very good, Lucius. Very good indeed.' Then he turned towards Snape again. 'Severus, I need your specific area of expertise to ensure that the girl will conceive the next time Lucius invites her.'

'A fertility potion, My Lord?' Snape asked, a feeling of dread seeping into his stomach.

'Yes, Severus,' Voldemort affirmed. 'And not just any fertility potion. I want you to give the girl Ingravesco.'

Snape felt the breath catch in his throat. That potion would ensure impregnation during the girl's next sexual encounter, no matter how strong a contraceptive she was using. Surely, there must be a way to talk himself out of this. He would not have any part in this sinister plan!

'My Lord,' he began, 'this potion needs four weeks to mature and after that another two weeks to reach its full effect.'

He was interrupted by Lucius' triumphant gloating. 'Six weeks in total! My Lord, this must be a sign! According to my calculations, the girl will be ovulating by the end of the second week of February. Looks like I will have a witch to bed on Valentine's Day and shall provide you with an heir before the end of November.'

* * *

Snape wasted no time in reporting back to Dumbledore once he returned to the castle. There was so much to tell from the last twenty-four hours! Firstly, that the plan for an heir for the Dark Lord had well and truly been put into motion as well as his involvement therein, and secondly, the more disturbing development: that Morgana had visited Malfoy Manor after the New Year's party of her own volition.

'She went to him of her own accord last night, Headmaster,' Snape sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose between thumb and forefinger. He still could not understand how the girl could be so incredibly stupid!

'Did you see any reason why she went to Malfoy last night?' Dumbledore asked calmly. 'Did you see her leave?'

Snape looked at him coldly. 'Unless it has escaped your notice, Headmaster, I had a whole pub full of students I was watching over last night. I cannot protect her twenty-four hours a day!'

'I'm not asking you to either, Severus,' Dumbledore replied, still annoyingly calm. 'I am just trying to get to the bottom of Morgana's motivations towards Lucius. It seems to me that she is beginning to be drawn to him, even without the Blackroot.'

'Lesser witches have crumbled under his charm,' Snape agreed reluctantly.

'Yes, they have.' Dumbledore peered characteristically over his half-moon glasses, his blue eyes keen and sharp.

'Severus, did you observe Miss Belakane at all during the New Year's party?'

Snape stared back suspiciously, wondering where the old man was going with this particular train of thought.

'She turned down any boy that came close to her,' Dumbledore continued. 'Why was this? Why did she not even dance?'

'She didn't like the music? Merlin knows there was some dross playing.'

Now it was Dumbledore's turn to fix his Potions master with a firm stare. 'Do not be obtuse, Severus. I am talking about the way she keeps away from any male student lately. You and I both know that this is not her typical behaviour.'

'Perhaps, Headmaster,' Snape began lightly, 'she has worked her way through them all and they no longer pose a challenge?'

Dumbledore had the good grace to ignore this comment. 'Or, as I rather suspect, her affections lie elsewhere ...'

Snape put his hands to his temples, rubbing them lightly. This was NOT what he needed to hear right now. 'I hardly see what I am supposed to do about that, Headmaster,' he snapped in annoyance.

'You really don't see it, do you, Severus?' Dumbledore persisted. 'Who was the only male person she even talked to for more than ten seconds during the party?'

'The DJ?'

'Oh, Severus, please!' Dumbledore banged his fist lightly on the table with exasperation. He knew Snape had been under a lot of pressure lately but his snarky comments were not helping the situation one bit.

'With whom did Morgana actually TALK? Have a conversation with?'

Snape narrowed his eyes. 'Headmaster, you cannot be insinuating ...' he replied in a low voice.

Dumbledore merely twinkled back in response.

'Great. This is all I need.'

'Severus, can you blame her? You two have shared a lot lately! But I am sure, as her teacher, you have not encouraged her in any way.' Dumbledore smiled at Snape serenely.

'It is no concern of mine if the girl cannot control her emotions, or her knicker elastic!' Snape snapped. He was fed up with everything falling on his shoulders. And now the old man was blaming HIM for Morgana's stupidity, as if her stupid crush on him and him turning her down had made her run to Malfoy!

'Tsk, tsk, Severus, such a harsh tone,' the Headmaster admonished. 'I hardly think a crush on her teacher is anything to be concerned about. However, when it comes to Lucius Malfoy, I am afraid this might be more than a crush, Severus. I believe Miss Belakane is falling in love.'

'Love?' Snape didn't know if he should laugh or vomit. 'Headmaster, I doubt that a seventeen-year-old girl knows anything about love.'

'Call it whatever you want, Severus: love, infatuation. It does not matter,' Dumbledore continued. 'What matters, however, is that the girl is in danger. We cannot have her run off to Lucius without us knowing. As a matter of fact, seeing that Lucius' master plan seems to working out far too nicely for him, we cannot have Morgana run to him at all.'

'And what do you suggest, Headmaster. Putting her in chains in the dungeon?'

'I suggest we tell her about Lucius' plan.'

Snape stared at Dumbledore in utter bewilderment. 'You must be joking!'

'This situation is too serious to be making jokes, Severus,' Dumbledore replied, a deep frown forming between his kind blue eyes. 'I am afraid it is our only option. Maybe – hopefully – the girl will stay away from Lucius when she knows about the horrible plan he has in store for her.'

'Very well then,' Snape snapped. 'You tell her then.'

* * *

The first night of the new year brought an icy storm and heavy snowfall, and everyone in the castle was tightly wrapped up in their blankets, dreaming of sunshine and warmth. Everyone except two confused seventh-years and a Potions master, whose mind seemed so full of thoughts that he seriously doubted that he would ever be able to sleep again.

How had he gotten himself into this mess, Snape wondered. Four months ago, he had watched the girls with an amused smirk, had seen Morgana act all cocky to get his attention and Charis blush every time he had looked at her. And he had enjoyed playing with them and had rolled his eyes when he had realised that they both had a crush on him. And now Morgana was slipping through his fingers, and Charis was coming far too close.

He slowed down his steps as he passed the stairs to Ravenclaw Tower, wondering if the girl was lying in her bed, dreaming, and if she still dreamt of him? He had seen the look in her eyes last night. Those big, green eyes had – once more – been filled with a longing that he so rarely got to see. The girl would have done anything for him last night, Snape knew that. And as hard as it had been to resist the temptation, he had sent her back to the castle, cursing himself for letting her get under his skin. He was not even sure why she affected him in such a manner. He was a grown man and one of the best Occlumens in the country. He, if anyone, should be able to restrain himself. But still, Snape found himself lusting for that girl, found himself longing to see that look in her eyes again.

Charis was indeed lying in her bed, but she was not dreaming. In fact, she was wide awake. She had drawn the curtains, cast a Silencing Charm around her bed and spent the better part of the last hour crying: for herself, her broken heart and for Severus Snape. Zabini had hurt her deeply, just as deeply as Snape had hurt her when he had pushed her away.

But Zabini had hurt her out of cruelty, and Snape – Severus – had pushed her away because he was not allowed to have her close. Yes, that must be the reason. She had seen the demanding look in his eyes, and she had heard the seductive sound of his voice. He did want her. Charis was sure of that. But he was not allowed to. And the thought of Severus having to be all alone pained Charis almost as much as the thought of being alone herself.

Snape felt himself grow even more tense with every step he took towards the dungeons, and the further away he got from Ravenclaw Tower, the quicker his thoughts transferred from Charis to Morgana. Why? Why in the name of Merlin had the girl gone to Malfoy last night? Why had she given herself to that foul creature? Had Lucius lured her with tender words and promises of love? And had she listened to him because he – Severus Snape – had pushed her away? Twice?

Snape clenched his jaw and strode by the hidden door that led to the Slytherin common room. He refused to believe that any of this was his fault. To hell with Dumbledore and his insinuations! But still, he doubted that he would be able to get the girl out of his head that night. Not after what he had heard at Malfoy Manor. The girl was in so much danger, and so far, she had no idea what kind of mess she had gotten herself into. Dumbledore would soon tell her. And then Dumbledore would expect him, her Head of House, to protect her. But for the time being, Snape doubted that the girl would let him.

Meanwhile, in the Slytherin common room, Morgana sat curled up in a chair by the empty grate, systematically ripping the parchment in her hands into pieces without really knowing why she was tearing up the note Lucius had sent her. After all, it had made her smile. Lucius had told her that he would never forget last night, and that she would forever be in his heart. And she wanted to believe him.

Last night had changed everything. She had gone to Malfoy Manor out of spite, in order to take revenge on Snape. And she had left the Manor in the early hours of morning, leaving a piece of her heart behind. The piece of her heart that she had meant to give to Severus Snape. Now, she sneered at the very name of her Head of House. There was no point in trying to win his affection anymore. He had made his choice, and he had chosen Charis.

Sure, Morgana had to admit that she had jumped to conclusions when she had assumed that Snape and Charis had been intimate last night. But that did not matter anymore. She had seen the way Snape had looked at Charis, and she had heard the tone in his voice. And she was certain that Snape and Charis had spent a night as passionate as she and Lucius had, even if Charis hadn't said anything or they hadn't had full sex. Morgana's Slytherin instincts told her that there was definitely something going on. Charis had seemed truly upset about the way Zabini had treated her, though. But then again, she seemed to be very secretive when it came to Severus Snape, and that alone aroused Morgana's suspicions.

And as much as it went against her nature, Morgana decided to lay low and see how things between Charis and Snape developed. Maybe, he would grow tired of the little Ravenclaw soon, and that would be the day Morgana would make her move. But for the time being, she would stay away from both of them.